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Re:SpareOne: Emergency mobile phone powered by AA batteries by nateberkopec on Sunday May 15, 2016 @01:09PM (#11701692)
I own a DeLorme inReach - ~$300 device with a ~$15/month plan. Runs on the Iridium network, unlike Spot's proprietary network. Also, inReach devices are duplex, and can send text messages to friends, family, and SAR teams.
Re:SpareOne: Emergency mobile phone powered by AA batteries by srdeveng on Sunday May 15, 2016 @07:17PM (#11703230)
SPOT uses Globalstar.

Argument against Globalstar is that it is not a true polar to polar real-time solution like Iridium.

Iridium is the only constellation where you will always find a bird overhead anywhere on the globe (with a ground station relay)

Realistically, Iridium has occasional (~5min) signal gaps likely due to the aging constellation (based on my own use cases developing with a roof mounted antenna)

Re:SpareOne: Emergency mobile phone powered by AA batteries by DanielDent on Sunday May 15, 2016 @03:24PM (#11702321)
What makes Iridium's network less proprietary than Spot's network?